Endeavours under NAP reasonably reduce space for terrorists

ISLAMABAD, Aug 6 (APP): Squeezing terrorists to their confines and with a burning desire to rid the country of terrorism, the National Action Plan (NAP) has delivered to the nation peace and security by significantly slashing the incidents of terrorism across the country.

Those who were prowling unchecked this time were flushed out and those putting up resistance were silenced forever in face of national commitment against the terrorists.

The implementation of National Action Plan (NAP) has brought about relief to nation as country has been witnessing a reasonable overall decline in terrorist activities with each passing year.

Operation against terrorism has reduced the space for terrorists as situation has considerably improved and this fact is not only recognized in Pakistan but also at international level.

One can recall that when present government took over in 2013 five to six bomb explosions were taking place every day but collective approach of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif led government and armed forces against terrorism, such incident now takes places in months.

Pakistan is among nations which have a success story against terrorism as efforts and sacrifices of army and security agencies in last one and a half year have helped decrease in terrorism activities during year 2015.

A United States Country report has revealed that 45 percent decrease has been witnessed in incidents of terrorism in Pakistan, 39 percent reduction in deaths related to terrorism and 53 percent reduction in injured cases related to terrorism as compared to last year.

The situation has further improved in six months of this year.

“Pakistan was winning war against terrorism but to take it to a logical conclusion, the country has to win on psychological front.

The war has not finished and we have to make an agenda and create a narrative which motivates the nation against terrorism.

The nation should not lose hope as it is time of despondency for terrorists,” Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said.

Since launch of the 20-point NAP, total 1,808 terrorists have been killed and 5,611 arrested, Coordinator for National Counter-Terrorism Authority (NACTA) Ihsan Ghani said while enumerating implementation status of 20 points of NAP.

As per details, about 951 of terrorists were killed in Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA), 455 in Sindh, 197 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), 135 in Punjab, 68 in Balochistan and two in Gilgit Baltistan (GB).

Majority of terrorists were arrested in Sindh, KP and FATA where their number was 1665, 1572 and 1256 respectively.
Under NAP 122,772 combing operations were carried out

while 142,335 suspects were arrested. Besides conducting 2,012,765 Stop and Search Operations, around 4,230 Intelligence Based Operations (IBOs) were carried out while 119,794 calls were received at Helpline 1717.

Some 411 executions had been carried out under the NAP including 380 in Punjab, 18 in Sindh, six in KPK, five in Balochistan and two in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

In order to establish Special Trial Courts, 11 courts have been notified while funds had been provided for NACTA with allotment of premises for it. Joint Intelligence Directorate (JID) was also being established.

Similarly, in order to curb terrorist financing 498 First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered under Hawala Hundi (FIA) and 692 accused were arrested. As part of Anti-Money Laundering measures, the authorities concerned registered 230 FIRs and captured 341 persons while 126 accounts belonging to banned organizations with accumulated deposits of over Rs one billion have been frozen.

Proscribed organizations had been categorized with 43 as violent against the state, 12 as non-violent but anti-state and seven as armed but not anti-state.

Regarding religious persecution data had been collected from different sources to prepare proposals for policymakers.

On the issue of glorification of terrorists strict implementation was being made through Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Any violation was instantly reported to the quarters concerned and action was taken.

A committee had been constituted under Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz to finalize FATA reforms.

Again thanks to collective approach of the government, 69 per cent decrease had been registered in incidents of target killing, 50 per cent in murders, 80 per cent in incidents of terrorism and 30 per cent in robberies after start of Karachi operation.

On matter of Balochistan reconciliation dialogue with exiled Baloch leaders have been initiated while 625 fararis have surrendered to authorities and the government is in contact with estranged Baloch nationalists. December 31 has been set as the deadline for return of registered Afghan refugees.

Pakistani nation, which has rendered supreme sacrifices in war against terrorism, is united to take this war to its logical end. Obviously the national unity and determination against this menace would help ensure a peaceful, safe and prosperous Pakistan to the new generation.